Organic Farming in India (2025): Complete Guide to Techniques, Certification, Inputs, and Profitability
Authority and action-focused Organic Farming in India means growing without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides while building soil health, biodiversity, and market trust. In 2025, smarter certification (PGS/NPOP), cluster‑based adoption, digital records, and traceability are unlocking premiums at home and in export markets. Use this guide for step‑by‑step techniques, input lists, certification checklists, cost–profit snapshots, and buyer mapping.
Table of Contents
Principles of organic farming
- Health and ecology: Maintain living soils with organic matter, minimize external inputs, and close nutrient loops.
- Care and fairness: Use safe inputs, protect workers and consumers, and follow transparent certification and labeling.
Core techniques and how to implement
- Composting and vermicompost: Build C:N around 25–30:1; mature compost reduces pathogens and stabilizes nutrients.
- Green manuring: Sunhemp/dhaincha to add biomass and nitrogen before main crop.
- Crop rotation and polyculture: Break pest cycles and diversify income; pair cereals with pulses and oilseeds.
- Biofertilizers and biostimulants: Azotobacter/PSB, mycorrhiza, and seaweed extracts to improve nutrient uptake.
- Biopesticides and botanicals: Trichoderma, Bacillus, entomopathogenic fungi, neem‑based products, and traps/lures under IPM.
- Water and soil: Drip irrigation plus mulching to conserve moisture and reduce disease pressure.
Soil testing and nutrient planning
- Test annually; track pH, EC, organic carbon, macro and micro nutrients to design crop‑stage feeding plans.
- Build soil organic matter with compost, cover crops, and residue recycling to enhance microbial activity and structure.
Certification pathways in India
- NPOP third‑party certification: Apply via an APEDA‑accredited Certification Body; undergo inspection, evaluation, and annual renewal.
- Steps include understanding standards, choosing an accredited CB, application, on‑site inspection, evaluation, certification, and logo use.
- For export, obtain Transaction Certificates for each batch in compliance with NPOP norms.
Government initiatives and inputs regulation
- PKVY and MOVCDNER support cluster development, value chains, and certification for organic growers.
- Quality of key biofertilizers and organic fertilizers is regulated under the Fertilizer Control Order; biopesticides follow Insecticides Act norms.
- Capital subsidies exist for biofertilizer/biopesticide units and liquid formulations through designated schemes.
Sourcing and using bio‑inputs
- Choose inputs aligned with FCO standards and crop‑wise Package of Practices; verify shelf life and viable counts for biofertilizers.
- Market sizing and demand for bio‑inputs are growing as states scale organic acreage, creating business opportunities in production and distribution.
जैविक खेती की दिशा में एक सशक्त पहल!
— Agriculture INDIA (@AgriGoI) November 5, 2025
परंपरागत कृषि विकास योजना (PKVY) के माध्यम से किसानों को जैविक खेती के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया जा रहा है, जिससे पर्यावरण संरक्षण, मिट्टी की उर्वरता में वृद्धि एवं स्वास्थ्यवर्धक उत्पादों के उत्पादन को बढ़ावा मिल सके।#AgriGoI#PKVY… pic.twitter.com/kXbO1z7gUE
Organic Farming in India: IPM in organic systems
- Prevention first: clean seed/seedlings, field sanitation, resistant varieties, and habitat management for beneficials.
- Monitoring: sticky/pheromone traps and scouting; use biologicals and botanicals at economic thresholds.
Organic Farming in India: Post‑harvest and marketing
- Clean, grade, and pack with proper labeling; maintain traceability for certification audits and buyer confidence.
- Explore FPO channels, organic bazaars, e‑commerce, and export buyers requiring NPOP documentation.
Profitability levers
- Reduce external input costs via on‑farm composting and seed saving; use drip to cut water and energy.
- Target premium markets with consistent quality, documentation, and reliable supply schedules.
Conclusion
In summary, organic farming in India is a practical pathway to build healthier soils, resilient yields, safer food, and premium market access, provided growers pair sound agroecological practices with credible certification and consistent traceability.
FAQs
1) Q: What is the process to get organic certification in India?
A: Apply under NPOP via an APEDA‑accredited Certification Body, undergo inspection, evaluation, annual renewal, and use the logo after certification.
2) Q: Which bio‑inputs are allowed in organic farming?
A: Biofertilizers like Rhizobium/Azotobacter/PSB and organic fertilizers like vermicompost under FCO norms; biopesticides must comply with the Insecticides Act.
3) Q: What documents are needed for export as organic?
A: A Transaction Certificate from an accredited CB is required per batch along with compliance to NPOP labeling and standards.
4) Q: What is organic farming and how is it different from natural farming?
A: Organic farming follows certified standards (NPOP) banning synthetic fertilizers/pesticides and requiring audited traceability; “natural farming” is a broader practice without mandatory third‑party certification.
5) Q: Which bio‑inputs are allowed in organic farming?
A: Biofertilizers (Rhizobium, Azotobacter, PSB), vermicompost/compost, and approved biopesticides/botanicals under FCO and Insecticides Act; always check input compliance with your CB.